I have a 99 dakota with a 5.2 5 speed 4wheel drive the check engine light is on but it just says speed sensor malfunction and the speedometer doesnt work. I was wondering where the speed sensor is located? Also the 4 wheel drive doesnt work right now transfer case i beleive could they be related? Throwing a code of p0500

 

I know my speed sensor is in my transmission, but they made some that were in the transfer case. I'm not exactly sure where mine is in my transmission but if it is in the transfer case then it would be on the drivers side just in front of the tail-shaft extension housing, at least I think that is what the large hole is for there. But if I am wrong I'm sure someone will get on and correct me.

 

The sensor is on the differential for the speedometer.

The transfer case is all mechanical on a '99. It is not related to the speedometer.

What exactly is the transfer case doing or not doing?

 

I replaced the sensor on the rear diff today with no change engine light came back on after I reset the light and the speedo still doesnt work... Could there be anything else? If not I need to start checking wires I guess

The transfer case hasnt worked since i got it. It wont even shift out of 2H other than that I dont know.

 

You don't have your ABS light on do you? It can affect the speedo.

Sounds like either the linkage or an internal problem with the transfer case.

 

There are two sensors, one over the diff for the ABS and one on the transmission for the speedo. If your ABS light is on and the speedo doesn't work, then it's the one over the diff. If it's just the speedo not working, its the one on the trans.

 

Code -P0500 is the vehicle speed sensor, on the differential.
Code -P0720 is the output shaft (transmission) speed sensor.